Mallya mulls manufacture of VLJs in India

Bangalore: After picking up a 50% stake in US-based Epic Aircraft, Vijay Mallya plans to manufacture the company''s very lights jets (VLJ) in India. Epic Aircraft manufactures single and twin engine VLJ under the name Dynasty, Victory, Elite, LT and Escape.

According to reports, Mallya is targeting the Middle East and Asian markets, apart from the domestic one. He is now awaiting completion of the certification process of the Dynasty, Victory and Elite aircraft by the US Federal Aviation Administration, before initiating manufacture in India.

With Mallya providing Epic access to Airbus, the French aerospace giant will help accelerate the certification process of its new VLJs - Elite and Victory. Certification and delivery of the twin-engine Elite is expected by 2009, while that of the single engine, 6-place turboprop, Dynasty, is expected sometime in the fourth quarter of 2008. The Dynasty is expected to sell for about $2 million.

The VLJ''s lower cost, as compared to a business jet, at between $1-3 million, will very likely put it within easy reach of India''s mushrooming billionaire corporate entities. Manufacture in India is also likely to bring down prices further.

According to industry sources, the private aircraft market in India is expected to cross the 500-mark over the next four years, from the current 175-200 figure.